Whoopers over

A cool dry day with a light NE wind switching to NW by evening.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Report by Jean:

It was a clear start after a clear night so I didn't expect to catch much or be able to see much vis but surprisingly there was a steady little flow of Chiffchaffs and evidence of Icelandic birds arriving with Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese overhead. The latter two species take a day or two to reach the Heysham area and usually "stage" ie rest up and feed up in at Scottish sites and/or Cumbria before continuing south. The passerines listed in the vis below are the absolute minimum that flew over but give an indication of what species were going over.

Vis:

Pink-footed Goose 60

Whooper Swan 18 

Pied/White Wagtail 3

Chaffinch 9

Greenfinch 1

Goldfinch 3

Siskin 1

Reed Bunting 1

Ringing:

32 birds were caught in 5 hours, 21 were new and 11 were retraps

Blue Tit  0 new, 2 retraps (both this year's young birds)

Great Tit 1 new, 2 retraps ( ditto)

Long-tailed Tit 2 new

Chiffchaff 9 new

Goldcrest 1 new

Robin 2 new, 2 retraps (one a year old, the other this year's young)

Dunnock 1 new, 4 retraps (one a year old and the others this year's young)

Chaffinch 3 new, 1 retrap (from this year)

Greenfinch 1 new

Goldfinch 1 new

Also present on the reserve:

A Jay, probably collecting or burying acorns

13 Carrion Crows - these gather on the pylon opposite the office and call each other in forming a "parliament" of crows. They then disperse in various directions to feed or some at this time of year migrate south.

Heysham skear - low water 10:45 (Malcolm)

Shag 1 immature rested briefly on conger rock then went fishing further south.

Immature Shag

Little Egret 18 - there are 10 in this clip.

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Great Crested Grebe 6

No Eider

This young Herring gull was trying to break open a Whelk shell, probably after a Hermit crab inside. Two Carrion Crows wanted to share the prize. The gull has to judge the best height to release the shell. Too low and it won't break, too high and there is less chance of it being first to reach it on the ground.

You can see in these last shots that the whelk shell is plummeting point down, and
appearing empty. This is what you would expect for a Hermit crab, it would retreat right
to the back of its shell, placing the centre of gravity just behind the point of the shell.
Perhaps the architect of its own doom!

The gull got there first this time, but had to repeat the process. I left them to it. My money would still be on the Hermit Crab, or at least on the whelk shell not breaking. I've never found a shell broken at the tip. That said, the gulls and the crows both seemed expectant, so perhaps the pounding renders the Hermit crab senseless and then easier pickings. I do regularly find empty whelk shells.

Oystercatcher 400

Curlew 30

Redshank 60

Knot 40

Turnstone 30

Ringed Plover 2

Ringed Plover

Middleton Nature Reserve 

I just did a quick check of the main ponds (Malcolm)

Mute Swan a pair with a cygnet on the main pond. Two more adults on the "no swimming" pond, one sat on the breeding pairs old nest.

This is the new adult on the "no swimming" pond

Coot 18

Moorhen 7 including 2 immature 

Mallard 8

Gadwall 9

Tufted Duck 8

Little grebe 1

I didn't manage to see one this afternoon, but Mark Jones took
this shot shortly before I arrived

Water Rail 2 squealing 

Cetti's warblers 2 singing

Migrant Hawker 6

Common Darter 12

I thought this Brown rat was scurrying off with a wafer biscuit......

........but it turned out to be a complete fat ball!

South shore

Wheatear 3 along the foreshore this morning - Linda Renshaw

I had a walk along the sea wall this evening (Malcolm)

This young Herring gull in the harbour has a small fish (looks like a whiting). The other gulls saw an opportunity so it flew off to eat it in peace elsewhere.

Grey Heron 2 - one each Red Nab and Wooden Jetty

Heron resting on the wooden jetty

This cormorant was fishing close to the sloping wall, not after large prey, but it was doing pretty well. I saw it catch two Common Blenny in two consecutive dives.

A smallish Blenny first dive

Quite a large one, as Blennies go, the next dive

Wigeon 29 - a Peregrine Falcon lifted all the waders off Red Nab and the Wigeon flew with them.

Wigeon

In the Nature Park

When I set out at 16:30 I heard two Chiffchaff calling, as had Kevin Eaves who checked a little earlier. But when I returned at 17:45 there were at least four calling.

And then they were gone!

After a week of light SE to east winds it moved to the NE overnight and freshened somewhat. A dry night but heavy and prolonged showers in the morning.

Middleton Nature Reserve

Shaun did a very thorough check after the morning rain had stopped, but only managed to locate 2 Chiffchaff. No sign of any Yellow-Browed warblers.

I'd just had a quick look earlier while it was still raining.

Wildfowl as yesterday plus 1 Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Water Rail 1 squealing

Cetti's warbler 1 singing

South shore (Malcolm)

I checked the Nature Park and the foreshore in the morning rain then again late afternoon. The only warbler seen/heard was a Chiffchaff by the small anemometer.

Shelduck 29

Wigeon 27 - these are some coming in to Red Nab this afternoon.

Wheatear 4

Wheatear in the morning rain

Rock Pipit 1

Meadow Pipit 2 in/off

Pied Wagtail 11

There are so many resident Pied Wagtail here, it is difficult to tell if grounded
birds are off passage or not. But I always suspect that those on the foreshore rocks,
as opposed to feeding on the grass, are more likely to be off passage

Linnet c45

Merlin 1 female/immature landed in the middle of the saltmarsh this afternoon and promptly disappeared. It didn't take flight again so presumably it had made a kill.

No Lapwing, probably no coincidence 

Redshank 55

Common Snipe 1

Three more to the tally!

A light east wind. Mainly overcast with some heavy showers 

South shore (Malcolm)

A heavy shower eased at 08:30, so I went to see if there was anything grounded along the foreshore.

Chiffchaff 3 in the Nature Park, the Yellow-Browed warbler not seen or heard 

Pink-Footed goose 57 north

Shelduck 47

Wheatear 1 

Wheatear, the Wren bottom right wasn't happy. There are at least three 
Wrens defending territory along the foreshore 

Rock Pit 2

Meadow Pipit 3 grounded plus 13 in/off

Meadow Pipit

Raven 1 in/off then east

Raven

Middleton Nature Reserve northern section (Malcolm)

I checked the east side till another heavy shower sent me home for lunch. I returned after lunch to check the west side.

Mute Swan - the pair with the cygnet were on the main pond, another young looking adult was again sitting on the nest used by the breeding pair.

Broody looking Swan plus a male Gadwall and a Coot

Tufted Duck 6 (4 males)

Gadwall 3 males

Water Rail 2

Cetti's warbler 5 singing

Chiffchaff 8 - 1 singing, 2 calling and the rest just seen

Yellow-Browed warbler 3

Not as professional as Shaun's map yesterday, but it will do. 1 and 2 seen before lunch, 3 after lunch.

The first two were calling nicely, but as always continually flitting. I tried to get a clip, but you can only see glimpses of the warbler in it, but it picked up its call well. The clip ends on a Migrant Hawker waiting for it to warm up a little. This is the first bird, between the main pond (right) and the "no swimming" pond.

The third bird was in the willow trees just beyond the gate to the ringing road. It called a few times, but nowhere near as often as the first two. All three were at locations not checked yesterday.

Sparrowhawk 1

There was only the one resting Migrant Hawker in the morning, but in the afternoon the sun tried to get out and things warmed a bit.

Migrant Hawker 3

Common Darter 4

Small White 1

Red Admiral 1

Yellow-Brow bonanza!

The light SE wind continues. Dry and sunny.

Yellow-Browed Warbler 7 probably 8

Shaun checked the areas where he hadn't seen one yesterday and managed to locate another four!

The point reference relates to the map below

1. (point A) Heysham Head - near the turret (Bracken Field). Then flew to Rectory wood with two Chiffchaffs.

2. (point E) Nature Park - near the small anemometer. This one was calling. At least 4 other birders managed to twitch this one.

3. (point F) Middleton Nature Reserve southern part - Along western track that runs alongside Middleton Industrial Estate. Seen and calling, with a Chiffchaff.

4. (point H) Showing well along the footpath from Carr Lane to Ocean Edge Caravan Park. 

Three more on Heysham Nature Reserve 

5. (point D) One called twice in the tank farm - Jean

6. (point B) One calling by the dipping pond - Kevin Eaves

7. (point C) At 14:30 Jean caught this one below the old Observation tower

A bird in the hand

8. One called from the fire pond at Heysham NR 17:45. The net had just been taken down! Probably different to the earlier one as that flew off due north from the office

Despite all the sightings they are terribly difficult to get a decent shot of, as they flit in the still quite densely foliaged bushes. This shot from Kevin of the small anemometer bird, is slightly out of focus, but much more typical of the glimpses that you get.

A bird in the bush - fortunately Yellow-Browed warblers are very distinctive

Shaun put together this map of all today's locations. And the link below to provide precise locations 

Map showing today's locations except Heysham Head.
The link below takes you to the complete map

https://gridreferencefinder.com/?gr=SD4099761505%7CPoint_s_A%7C1,SD4077259967%7CPoint_s_B%7C1,SD4050859886%7CPoint_s_C%7C1,SD4054959886%7CPoint_s_D%7C1,SD4071659171%7CPoint_s_E%7C1,SD4187558652%7CPoint_s_F%7C1,SD4140458494%7CPoint_s_H%7C1&v=r&labels=1

South shore

I had a walk along the sea wall at lunchtime (Malcolm)

The Yellow-Browed warbler near the small anemometer was still calling

Mediterranean gull 2 on Red Nab

Wigeon 19 on Red Nab

Kingfisher 1 flitting around Red Nab as the tide was approaching (no foliage to hide behind here!)

Robin in a cocky pose

Grey Heron on No.2 outfall railings 

Some of the 97 Redshank near No.1 outfall

Meadow Pipit 3 in off

There was just a single Wheatear on the foreshore. I walked as far as the waterfall and the only passerines near the lighthouse were a flock of 35 Linnet that flew east (don't know where they came from)

But when Kevin Eaves checked the same area later in the afternoon there was another Wheatear near the lighthouse. Plus three very active Chiffchaffs in the scrub near the waterfall and then they were joined by two more.

Three Yellow-Brows HNR! Plus more?

The forecast rain just managed to hold off, with just a few very light showers, particularly in the afternoon. A light SE wind

Heysham Nature Reserve

Shaun Coyle, later joined by Pete Crooks and Alan Physick did a thorough check this morning resulting in a very impressive.....

Yellow-Browed Warbler 3 - one along the tank farm fence line and two at the dipping pond.

Chiffchaff 6

Goldcrest 2

Feeding flock of Long-Tailed Tits.

Heysham Head (Shaun)

Chiffchaff 5

Blackcap 1

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Shaun checked this afternoon while there were some light showers

Swallow 2

Chiffchaff 3

So 14 Chiffchaff for the day and with the 3 Cetti's (below) 4 species of warblers totalling 21 birds - not bad for October!

I just did a quick check this morning (Malcolm).

Mute Swan 3 - the male on the main pond the female and cygnet on the "no swimming" pond.

No Tufted Duck 

Mallard 9

Gadwall 1 male 

Male Gadwall

Teal 1 female flew off

Water Rail 2 squealing

Grey Wagtail 2 together south

Cetti's warbler 3 singing

Chiffchaff 1 singing (possibly one of Shaun's)

A mixed Tit flock, mainly Long-Tailed, but also Great and Blue Tits.

A Brown Rat, choosing to swim rather than scurry around the banking

A walk from Nature Park to saltmarsh saw/heard nothing of note in the Nature Park, and little else along the foreshore.

Wigeon 10 

Shelduck 53

Wheatear 1

Rock Pipit 1

Footnote: a report by an as yet unknown source on Rare Bird Alert - 3 Yellow-Browed warbler on Middleton Nature Reserve late afternoon.

Easy Meds.......again

A dry and sunny day with a light SE wind.

South shore (Malcolm)

A check from saltmarsh to Red Nab this morning on the rising tide.

Pink-Footed goose 57 south

Shelduck 83 feeding on the shore 

Wigeon 17 feeding on Red Nab.

The males' yellow forehead not yet developed 

These 14 were later joined by another 3. They are eating the gutweed growing on the rocks.

Mediterranean gull - just one adult located on Red Nab

Oystercatcher 300 - till c2,000 more arrived from the north side, presumably some disturbance at the Heliport roost.

Curlew 50

Turnstone 4

Redshank 25

Common Snipe 1 flushed from saltmarsh 

Lapwing 16

Kingfisher 1 on Red Nab

The tide was now reaching the middle of Red Nab, and that's where
the Kingfisher was fishing

Location shot, the Kingfisher is on the central rock

Linnet 70 on the saltmarsh, likely more along the marsh grass strip

Meadow Pipit 2 in off

In the Nature Park

Red Admiral 2

Small White 1

Comma 1

Common Darter 5

There is a fine crop of pine cones on the firs near the white barrier. These are
Goldfinch coming in to feed. I thought I heard a Siskin, but I couldn't see one.

North shore (Angela)

1 Swallow in off the sea at Heysham Head.

Sparrowhawk over the woods at Half Moon bay car park and Chiffchaff heard in same location.

Middleton Nature Reserve

Rosemary and Peter Silvester paid a visit. This from Peter:

On a chilly. windy but bright visit to Middleton Reserve today we saw a surprising number of Common Darters. 

Male Common Darter, happily perched on a swan's feather

One of the most surprising thing of our visit was the number of mating pairs of Darters we saw. At one time we had three pairs ovipositing virtually at our feet.

The gulls and other birds put on quite a display too.

Mainly Black-Headed gulls with Tufted Duck (more on this later)

I checked the main ponds early evening (Malcolm)

The water level on the "no swimming" pond is now back to normal. The Mute Swan pair and their cygnet were on this pond, the cygnet stood on their nest. 

No sign of the eggs that were in the nest before it was flooded.

Pink-Footed goose 45 south

Tufted Duck 5 (4 males)

Mallard 2

Coot 18

Moorhen 5 adult plus 2 well grown young

Common Snipe 1

Cetti's warbler 1 singing

Chiffchaff 2 calling

Grey Wagtail 1 south

Migrant Hawker 1

Common Darter just 3 by this time

No butterflies seen

Leafhopper. Thanks to Alison for this identification,
looking at the bright colour of it I think it's the Green Leafhopper - Cicadella viridis.

All the while I was there, there was a constant drift of gulls from east to west, reminiscent of the evenings when the gulls used to return after foraging at the landfill site. And, as Peter, I noticed more than usual freshening up at the main pond.

Not just Black-Headed gulls but at least 2 Meds

Adult Mediterranean gull centre

They bathed and drank a while then drifted off to the west, only to be replaced by more gulls from the east. Something was going on!

So I called in at Imperial road on my way home and sure enough the fields were full of gulls.

The farmer had clearly been treating the fields again. Not slurry this time,
there was no smell. It seemed to be decomposed vegetation 

The above shot is literally the small window I had to view them. This is looking through my car window and one of few gaps in the hedge. Even so in this small section of the gulls I located 12 Mediterranean gulls

2nd calendar year Mediterranean gull (centre)

Three adult Meds in this shot.

I took this clip as I thought the Med that begins on the left had a white ring, but it turned out just to be a metal ring, you get a glimpse of the ring early in the clip. The discolouration in the shot above and this clip is due to out of focus foliage in the hedge between.

Unfortunately as soon as I left my car for a better look they all relocated! Although by walking slowly it was possible to approach them again. I didn't see more than 12 Meds at one time, but presumably there were others in the more distant fields. So absolute minimum would be 14 as the 2 seen earlier on Middleton Nature Reserve moved off west.

This clip is mainly Black-Headed gulls (just one adult Med). It shows the material that had been spread and the ease at which the gulls were finding plenty to eat amongst it.

A Common Buzzard was keeping an eye on proceedings 

Just out of the recording area:

Yellow-browed Warbler at Overton late am. Approx 250 m along the road to the Waste Water Treatment Works.